Chiefblackhammer

You didn't offend me nor did I question your "character" (seriously how did you get to that conclusion?) my post was in regards to the general ignorance towards how sites truly operate and how everyone expects something for "nothing." Yet the truth is that it costs (in most cases with a site of this size) a lot of $$$ to run a site.

AO can exist without members but not $$$ and that is the facts. But to think that any one group of people is "special" just because they have been here a while and posted a bunch is a joke. People come and go, if you leave someone else will join and take your place. Take that from someone who has been here longer and has more posts than you, I have seen many come to AO and many leave... yet we are still here.

Contributions are nice thought and seems like it would work but they don't really work, if you won't pay 20 bucks to remove something that you don't like about the site your are no more likely to pay 20 bucks to keep it going either. That being from a number of site owners I know who have a "please donate to keep us alive" section yet get 0 from it.

And BTW I never said any contribution was insignificant, even posting..but when your talking apples don't mention oranges

__________________

Tbaism

Sorry about that, but I must have misinterpreted from this portion of your post.
This is in no way an insult, but I am merely answering your quesiton. Check out the definition of character if you didn't quite understand what i meant.

You are right in saying AO can survive without members, but what does that mean and why would that happen? The reason why this site costs so much is because of quality right? Usually higher quality means larger member base, more space, more cost, so on and so forth. If noone was here, what is the point of a forum for discussion amongst individuals? I suppose i am diving into philosophy here, but what is something, when the reason for it's creation is gone?

Would i consider a person with a post count of 15,000 special on the site? Yes. Why? Well you said it yourself; people come and go all the time, but I see that continuous growth of posts and the time spent here, seperates those individuals from one another. I live in the real world as well, that is an everyday occurence out here.

Why exactly would anyone pay to have something they don't like, to be removed? Any first reaction to that is usually the same. It is unfair, although it may be selfish. If things need to be done, so be it, that is reasonable. No one is questioning the reason for the ads. The reason why people don't get donations, is usually a sign of low quality, the members don't have money, or it is just that their most significanct members are procrastinators. On the same page, what is the average age range for the AO members? How many have credit cards, and how many would actually have parents willing to pay 20 dollars to remove a half inch ad on a 19 monitor, with options for scroll? Does it matter if they truly loved this site or not, or if they hate that ad or not?

Am I still speaking oranges? I would rather get this straightened out as quickly as possible. As you stated, AO costs quite a bit correct? If 1 person were to pay that fee, would it actually do anything to help pay for the site? From what i understand, the reason for paying to remove that ad, is so that you can work your way into removing the ads completely?

GallComp

OK take this issue to your Private Messaging both of you. Do not deviate anymore from the announcement....

__________________

zyta

Would affiliating with another forum work for this? If so, I can make it happen

__________________

equinn

ok so zyta he means like me im added to ao from bebo soo i can get off the adds? if i pm him telling him this? is that right

__________________

Shinku no kage

I didnt realize that people had problems with the ads. Really, are they that much of a nuisance? I barely notice them most of the time...unless its a new anime ad or something. Honestly I find the new layout with the ads kinda annoying. It doesnt make any difference to anything but personally it was easier at the top.

Hmmm...pay $20 or link AO to your blog, etc. I wonder which one the people will choose.

__________________

Saionji

The ADs don't even bother me that much, although they are very annoying.

Legend

Yeah I don't see what the deal is. All I see right now is ad right after the first post of each page. The question for me is, in the long run would it be better for the site if I pay this $20 bucks or should I just leave it be?? If the site makes more money from letting the ads stay then I'll let it stay.

And the man already gave an alternative, just put a link on your personal network sites to AO and you'll have the ads remove for free. As long as the ads doesn't have audio it is fine with me.

__________________

Chiefblackhammer

lol, last I checked threads are meant for DISCUSSION and DEBATING. If this was meant solely as an announcement than DB would have closed it when he posted it. But he didn't because he wants the feedback and discussion of the announcement. What benefit would it be for us to take it to a PM system when it should be here so others can weigh in with their thoughts and feelings on it? I believe Tbaism has a very valid argument which a number of members will feel the same way on, I on the other hand know the cost involved with running a site and am trying to offer rebuttal which clears the air.

@Tbaism I respect your opinion and don't take anything you have said as an insult which I hope is reciprocal. Now I still believe your on oranges. Why? The basic argument of yours is 2 fold.

1) That tenure and post count are valid contributions to offset the "cost" of running the site.

I contend that the tenure and post count of a person has no barring on the profitability mechanisms of this site. You cannot confuse the purpose of the site with the cost of producing it. Yes you can argue there is no site without us posting meaning who would want to run a site with no members? But the thing is he is footing a large bill for US to come and enjoy the freedom of speech and converse with others. What good is your willingness to come and make this site successful with loads of posting if he can't afford to have the site? No amount of posting puts the ability to do so there.

2) It is unfair to have to pay to have something you don't like removed. Especially if they can't afford it.

It is NOT ok for us to get what we want because DB decided to use HIS money on a daily basis to run the site. Just because we didn't make that same decision or can't afford to do so doesn't mean that we can say "remove" the income source without monetary compensation. It isn't "fair" for DB to bare all the cost while everyone else "uses" the site and "expects" free stuff.

Remove the ads for all and he can't afford to give you the site where you enjoy expressing yourself, hanging with friends etc...

Leave the ads or get monetary compensation for the removal of them and we have a site to post on.

Honestly which one would you really want?

__________________

Dragon Ball

It's really not too much to ask for. If you don't have the funds or access to funds, I'm sure you have a facebook, myspace, gaia or an account at another social networking site. Just link from your account / site to AO, PM me and I will remove the ads for you.

The server costs for AO are $235 / month. Thankfully this is offset by ads. Now you can see why the ads are so important.

Cheers.

__________________
FAVOURITE THREADS EXPLAIN why, or risk an infraction.
BE WARNED Junk Posting Not cool! Find out why.
MOVE YOUR STUFF FleaMarket Member's Trading Pit!

dark1angel

This recent update you gave is sincerely a great solution for freezing sites, in case your wondering what that meant was that every time i try to post anything for me it would take for about five min. or so depending if there is a spam that just simply pops up on me and usually freezes my computer with all the different varieties of ads. so i appreciate it if you are creating a solution. ^_^

__________________

The Death Ressurects me into the darkest Angel.
|アスタロス|